Ode to 11 September given the boot by ABC

Peter Jennings may be Canadian, but in his job as anchorman of ABC's national primetime news broadcast he has learnt a thing or two about patriotism. And he doesn't think it sits well with crude language.

That, at least, is what some observers are surmising from a spat between the network and a country singer, whose booking to appear on a 4 July broadcast that Mr Jennings will present has been cancelled. It was reportedly a veto issued by Mr Jennings that led to the cancellation.

Mr Keith's song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)", inspired by the events of 11 September, is nearing the top 10 in US charts.

It includes this verse, that has prompted some radio stations to censor it. "This big dog will fight/ When you rattle his cage/ And you'll be sorry that you mess with/ The US of A/ 'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass/ It's the American way."

Mr Keith sniped: "I find it interesting that Jennings is not from the US." Alluding to Mr Jennings' rival at CBS, he added: "I bet Dan Rather'd let me do it on his special."